April 17, 2006 'BUSINESS AS USUAL' Despite no GM, Red Bulls plug away
New York Red Bulls assistant general manager Chris Canetti said on Monday that it was "business as usual" with the club, even with president and general manager Alexi Lalas bolting to the Los Angeles Galaxy earlier in the day.
In other words, even though there might be some front-office or coaching chances made in the next week, the team is moving forward and pursuing possible deals with other MLS teams.
Coach Mo Johnston said that he has three or four trade possibilities. Any that are made, however, must be approved by Red Bull officials.
"The direction we have from Red Bull is ‘business as usual,’ " Canetti said. "So, Mo hasn’t stopped trying to find ways to make this team better, and we spoke yesterday on Easter for a little while about some things. So if we have anything this week that comes up that is going to make this team better, then we will present that to the powers-that-be and we’ll move from there."
Added Johnston: "I just hope we can move forward really quickly because the games come fast and furiously. I only want the best players possible for this team."
Canetti said that Red Bull officials haven't given him a time frame on when they will be finished with their plans of restructuring the organization.
"Those plans will be available to us within the near future, possibly within the next seven days," he said.
Asked what he would tell fans who had to put up with constant changes and instability through the years, Canetti replied:" You’re right, this organization has gone through a lot of change and instability over the past 10 years and in a lot of cases stability is the key to success. You have to look at the other teams in the league and see what stability brings to the table. No doubt about it, the Red Bull transaction and purchase of this club brings more instability and more change. Even when Alexi (Lalas) came in we saw that there was change so now there is going to be more change.
"I would say to the fans that it is unfortunate that this has happened, but at the end of the day what Red Bull can bring to the table and the impact that they will have on this club and this marketplace is going to be substantial. Just like any of us here -- players, front office members or fans -- there is going to be change but we have to get through it, there is going to be some rough spots along the way but at the end this club is in good hands and I believe Red Bull will give the fans ultimately what they are looking for."
Canetti said he was impressed with Red Bull's knowledge of American professional soccer, especially with the complicated rules of MLS, which have confounded many a top foreign coach in the league's first decade.
"These guys are smart businessmen," he said. "They did their research. They did their homework before they made this purchase. They understand the rules of the league.
"Like anything, when you get involved in something new you might not know all the ins and outs, and I can tell you there’s been a lot of things that they’ve learned in a short period of time.
"Yes, I think they do get it, I think they’ve been very successful in their other businesses, as far as using American people to make their brand very successful in America with their North American division and their mid-Atlantic office here in Hoboken. They get it. I know they realize this is different than what they have over there in Austria."
